Temple transfer provides Mountaineers with a veteran at inexperienced receiver position

Joey Kittle

Sports Editor

Ryan, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, transfered to WVU in May after two coaching changes occurred at Temple. He had 12 receptions for 162 yards and one score as a freshman for the Owls in 2018.

First-year coach Neal Brown announced the decision on Friday.

Ryan will provide experience for the Mountaineers at the receiver position after the graduation of David Stills and Gary Jennings, both currently in NFL camps with the Bills and Seahawks, respectively, and Marcus Simms’ decision to enter the NFL supplemental draft. He was not selected but later agreed to an undrafted free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ryan, along with Florida State transfer George Campbell, is expected to contribute immediately, and will join holdover junior T.J. Simmons, who also transfered to WVU two years ago from Alabama, as another veteran at the position. Both Ryan and Campbell, at 6-foot-4, also provide size.

“We’re just a young group,” WVU wide receivers coach Xavier Dye said earlier this month of Ryan and Campbell. “We needed guys to come in and challenge them.

“It’s helped (the younger players). Guys are doing much better because you’ve got someone behind them to push them.”